Agricultural implement.



L. EASTON.

I AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. I915.

Patented Mar. 20,1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET l,

': v1 ,219,4Mh

INVENTOF! WITNESSES ATTORNEY L. EASTON.

' AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT. APPLICATION FILEDOCT. 16. 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 20, 191?.

L. EASTON.

- AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-I6. I9I5- v I Patented Ma1'.20,1917.

i s L WITNESSES am SM ATTORNEY L. EASTON.

AGRLCULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

.APPLICATION FILED ocT'. I6, 1915.

1,219,444. Patented Mar. 20, 1917..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY v v 71.! 4 p J WITNESSES 1 I 4 I r f Ls L. EASTON. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT. APPLICATION FIILED OCT- 15 1915- ].,21 9,444. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- INVENTOP.

ATi'ORNEY LEEB EASTON, OF BOSLYN, ILLINGIS.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

Application filed October 16, 1915.

To aZZ wiwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnannnn Easron, citizen of the United States, residing'at Roslyn, in the county of Cumberland and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Agricultural Implements, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to agricultural machinery and more particularly to an im proved tractor or engine of that type utiliz f what is generally known as a caterpillar tread An object of the invention 18 to provide a traction engine designed particularly for use in well Water districts wherein the earth or soil is of such a nature as to preclude effectual use. of either draift animals 011 power appliances of an accepted design.

A further object of the invention is to provide an agricultural machine of 'a construction pennitting attachment thereto of various soil treating and farming implements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a traction engine of a construction designed primarily for use in connection with a reaper and binder, although, as

suggested, various agricultural devices and soil treating implements may be, if desired, operatively associated there-With.

I further contemplate a tractor wherein provision is made for several necessary adjustments to be hereinafter described.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and, then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this ap plication.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is a side elevation of my improved machine;

Fi 2 is a top plan view; Fig; 3 is a transverse o view;

Fig. is a rear end view,

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the gear shifting device;

Fig. b is a detail view of the frame adjusting means; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

cross sectional ?atented Mar. 5 3i Hai a.

Serial no. eases.

Fig. T illustrates a modification.

Before proceeding with a description of the drawings I desire to call particular attention to the fact that while I have evolved my invention with reference to'its use in connection with a grain reaper and hinder, the same, if desired, may be operatively associated with various soil treating implements such as plows, harrows, etc., or with agricultural implements such as mowers, planters, etc, and if desired, as a roller.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates as an entirety the main frame of the machine, 2 as an entirety, the auxiliary or adjustable frame, and 3 as an entirety that portion of the machine constituting the caterpillar tread.

T he main frame 1 in its preferred embodiment comprises beams 4-4 disposed in d1- connected at one end verging relation and such a manner as to as indicated at 5 in properly mount the steering wheel 6. Beams 7, disposed in contiguous relation, with said beams a, constitute the upper portion of the main frame 1. The lower portion of the said frame 1 comprises longitudinal beams 8-8, end or transverse beams 99. and centrally disposed beams 10-10. the latter, beams 10 extending parallel with the beams T and ma horizontal plane therebeneath. Standards or upright beams 11-11 afford a supportmcans for the upper portion main frame 1 and with the beams 4: 7, 8, 9 and 10 constitute the mainframe 1 of the machine.

The auxiliary or a size and shape to embrace horizontally the lower portion of the main framel, said auxiliary frame comprising longitudinal or side beams 13 and a rear cross beam ll. the forward end of the auxiliary frame terminating beyond the forward end of the main frame said beams 13 affording a support for a binder frame 15 hereinafter more par ticularly described.

Parallel vertical rack oted to the cross beam ll of the auxiliary frame, one bar at each side of the respective beams l. Braces il -1T have a rigid connection with the beams 16l( and a pivotal connection with the auxiliary frame that the mentioned bars 16l6 during adjustment of said frame, may at all times maintain a substantially vertical or upright position. Pivot pins l8-l8 penetrate the beams -54 and the beams lit-13 that the aux .iary frame 2, during adjustment, may be oscilbars ill-16 are pivof the "gage with the rack the auxiliary frame 'sociated with each axle lated. to either raise or lower the binder frame 15 relatively to the ground. Adjustment is obtained through manipulationof a crank handle 19 affixed to a vertical stub shaft 20 jeurnaled in a suitable bearing 21 in. turn secured to the rear cross beam 1.2 forming a part of the main frame. A worm 22 is mounted on the shaft 20 to engage with a pinion mounted on a shaft 2% journaled in bearings therefor formed by the beams H. Pinions 2525 are mounted, one upon each end of the shaft 24: to enbars l6-l6 hereinbefore described. Through manipulation of the crank handle 19, the desired adjustment of is obtained. Coming now to'a description of the caterpillar tread devices, each designated as an entirety by the numeral 26 designates the front axle and 27 the rear axle of-the machine. The axles26 and 27 are both divided as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the

corresponding sections of each-of the menti'oned axles affording a support for the devices 3. A bevel geardifferential 28 is asfor an obvious purpose. i

The caterpillar tread devices 3 being in duplicate, a description of but one will ensue. As before suggested, the corresponding sections of the axles 26 and 27 together support one of said devices. Each of the mentioned sections has mounted thereon two comparatively large sprockets 29 over which sprockets chains 3030 ride. Parallel uniformly spaced slats 31 are connected to the respective chains EEO- 30, the mentioned slats, during rotation of the sprockets providing the caterpillar tread. Through action of differential 28, it is evident that the devices 3 may move at varying speeds.

The sections constituting axles 26 and 27 are journalcd in bearings 32 therefor aliixed to the side beams 8 and the central beams 10 forming a. part of the main frame 1.

The driving power for the caterpillar tread devices 3 is obtained through operation of an engine 33 preferably of the internal combustion type, situated rearwardly of the main frame 1. The power shaft of the engine designated is jonrnaledin bearings 37 attached. to said frame. Gears 36 and 37 are mounted for sliding movement on the shaft 34. A relatively fixed bevel gear 38 is mounted on a stub shaft 39 in proximity to thegears 36 and 37. Shaft 39 carries a sprocket 40 over which a chain 1d is arranged to operate, said chain engaging also a sprocket 42 mounted on a shaft adjournaled in bearings -44 secured to thebeams- 1O-l0. Said shaft 43 also carries a sprocket 45 over which a chain 46 is arranged to operate, the mentioni-al chain engaging also a sprocket 4.7 mounted on a shaft ournaled in bearings 19 disposed forwardly of the is adapted to mesh with the differential 28 of the said forward axle and shaft 48 a gear 51 which is adapted to mesh with the differential 28 of the rear axle. Through the above arrangement power is transmitted from the engine or power shaft 34 to the caterpillar tread devices.

Proceeding now to the reverse gears 86 and 3?, attention is directed to the fact that the mentioned gears are of the-opposed bevel type. A bracket 52 is mounted for sliding movement on the shaft 3%, said bracket comprising a main or body portion 52 and arms 52, the latter directly engaging said shaft and said chain speed gears. Movements of the bracket toward the front end of the machine will bring gear 36 into driving engagement with the gear 38 and movement of said bracket toward the rear end of the machine will bring gear 37 into driving en gagement with said gear 38. The action of. the gear 86 is to advance the machine and of gear 37, the opposite. Movement of the bracket 52 is obtained through manipulation of a lever 53 connected to a rod 5% journaled is mounted at the rear end of the machine.

Said wheel 6 is provided with a relatively broad tread and mounted on an axle 59 journaled in arms forming a part of a wheel support 60. A shaft 61 is attached to said shaft 60, said shaft penetrating that portion of the main frame designated A steering wheel (32 is mounted on the shaft (31 that movement of the wheel support 60 and the wheel 6 may be varied as desired. A canopy or shield 63 supported by uprights or standards 6.4. is positioned over the rear end of the machine to protect not only the engine but the engine attendant or the machine operator. Crank 19 and lever 53 are disposed in proximity to the engine.

Proceeding now with a description of the binder frame 15, 65 designates the frame proper which is pivoted as at 36 between the beams 18 forming a part of the auxiliary frame-2, Uprights 6?67 are made fast to the frame 65, one at each end thereof. Adjustment of the said frame (Wrclatively to the auxiliary frame is obtained through manipulation of a lever 68 fastened to a crank shaft- 69 ou'rnaled 1n the main frame 1. The terminals of the shaft 39 are conlot ' tachment (only suggested but not shown) the machine that adjustment of the frame may be uniform and true.

Through adjustment of the frame 65, independently of the auxiliary frame or through adjustment of said auxiliary frame, it is evident that the reaper and binder atmay be moved into andv out of the desired proximity to the ground. The power necessar' to operation of the binder and reaper attachment is derived through the shaft 34, a sprocket 73 being mounted on said shaft over which a chain 74- is arranged, said chain engaging a sprocket 75 forming a part of the power means utilized to operate the attachment.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it is evident that the tractor may be utilized for any of the various purposes before pointed out; that adjustment of the frame 65 may be obtained through manipulation of either the crank 19 or the lever 68; and that through themediumof caterpillar tread devices, the tractor may be operated upon boggy or marshy soil.

' ieferring now to the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, 80 designates the frame corresponding to the frame 1 of the preferred form, 81 the-frame corresponding to the frame 2 of the preferred form, and 83 a third frame for the caterpillar tread devices, the said third frame being pivoted as at 84 within the main frame 80 to mount said de vices in a manner permitting bodily pivotal movement, this arrangement permitting proper operation of the machine when operating upon uneven or broken ground.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditons concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim 'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a. tractor, a main frame, rolling means supporting said frame, an auxiliary frame pivoted for movement relatively to said main frame, a u'ieans to adjust and lock said auxiliary frame in its adjusted position, an agricultural implement carried by said auxiliary frame, and means on the main frame to drive the said rolling means.

2. In a tractor, the combination with an agricultural implement, of 1 an implement supporting frame pivoted to move relatively to said tractor, a means to adjust and lock said frame in .its adjusted position, a third frame pivoted to. said last mentioned frame and supporting said implement, and a means on the tractor engaging the third frame to permit of adjustment thereof. substantially as described.

3. In a tractor, a main frame, caterpillar tread devices supporting. said frame, collar implement supporting frame to lock and adjust said frame'in its adjusted position.

5. A means for operatively associating an agricultural implement witha tractor including in combination with the tractor, an auxiliary supporting frame attached to and adjustable upon said tractor, vertical rack bars pivoted to said auxiliary frame, means carried by the tractor to engage the rack bars for adjusting said auxiliary frame and locking said frame in its adjusted position, an implement supporting frame pivoted for movement independently of said auxiliary frame, and a means on the tractor engaging with said supporting frame to adjust and lock said frame in its adjustedposition, and a power means for the tractor operatively associated with the implement mounted on said implement supporting frame.

6. In a tractor, a machine frame, a pair of caterpillar tread devices each having a forward and a rearward axle, differentials connecting corresponding axles of the devices, a gear for operating each differential, a sprocket and chain mechanism connecting said gears for rotation in unison, a longitudial power shaft, reversing gears on said shaft, a transmission gear engageable byeither of said reversing gears, and a chain and sprocket mechanism for driving one of the differential operating gears from said transmission gear.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEANDER EASTON. Witnesses PHILIP MEYER,

J. A. DECKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

